Pleasing Novelty

This volume focuses on one chapter in the introduction of the Japanese aesthetic into America. It relates a compelling story of how a Japanese Buddhist monk by the name of Bunkio Matsuki became determined to cultivate America's fascination with all things Japanese during the last quarter of the nineteenth century. Matsuki embarked upon this saga in 1888 in Salem, Massachusetts, in the employ of Edward Sylvester Morse, a prominent scientist who had formed a justly celebrated collection of Japanese ceramics. While assisting Professor Morse with the cataloguing of his collection (which was ultimately acquired by the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston), Matsuki was approached by the owner of Salem's largest store to develop a Japanese department. Matsuki, of course, leapt at this unique opportunity to bring a broad spectrum of Victorian America the whole range of Japanese arts, crafts, & antiques. His tremendous success in this endeavor testifies to the existence of what Professor Morse referred to as "the Japan craze," & this series of essays helps document this intriguing phenomenon. The book is available from the Essex Musuem Shop, Peabody & Essex Museum, East India Square, Salem, MA 01970. Major credit cards are accepted. Please call: 508-744-3390 for more information.Sharf, Frederic A. is the author of 'Pleasing Novelty' with ISBN 9780883890981 and ISBN 0883890984.